Like most artists, Billy Porter had big aspirations. From his youth watching Dreamgirls perform on The Tony Awards, he knew that he wanted to be up there singing and dancing. As someone from a lower-class family who had an inherent queerness in everything he did, the effort to stand out and get away fueled him, driving him to be the hard worker he is today. But the journey isn't that simple. While hard work paid off as evident by his work in Kinky Boots and Pose, it was decades in the making, where a fraught home life only added to personal issues of valuing himself. Throughout his memoir "Unprotected," Porter opens up as only he can, presenting every conflict in his life with raw honesty and hard truths that helped to shape him into a better person. It's as much a fascinating look into how a singular artist evolved through a society that sought to oppress him as it is a chance to psychoanalyze how that impacts him personally. It's witty, heartbreaking, and beautiful all in one.
One of the greatest issues with reading "Unprotected" is how clearly Porter writes. It is almost better to get the audiobook just because there is something alive in every sentence. In-between the nitty gritty are these sassy off-hand remarks, a triumphant "WERK!" every time Porter makes a breakthrough. It even breaks down into an inner voice, almost hyperventilating as conflicts ranging from his youth to 2020's COVID-19 criss and the death of George Floyd. It's a memoir that has its own narrative tension, allowing the viewer to be as impressed with his effort as it is the sense of urgency, that he's constantly running out of time. First it was to get into a school that would allow him to make it to Broadway. From there, it's the hits and misses of being a young artist in general, and the journey along the way is compelling.
One of the greatest issues with reading "Unprotected" is how clearly Porter writes. It is almost better to get the audiobook just because there is something alive in every sentence. In-between the nitty gritty are these sassy off-hand remarks, a triumphant "WERK!" every time Porter makes a breakthrough. It even breaks down into an inner voice, almost hyperventilating as conflicts ranging from his youth to 2020's COVID-19 criss and the death of George Floyd. It's a memoir that has its own narrative tension, allowing the viewer to be as impressed with his effort as it is the sense of urgency, that he's constantly running out of time. First it was to get into a school that would allow him to make it to Broadway. From there, it's the hits and misses of being a young artist in general, and the journey along the way is compelling.
For those aware of Porter's more recent success, there's a lot of great early development in the story. He discusses wanting to originate an iconic Broadway role. He talks about wanting to be seen as more than a gay Black man who is undermined by society during the AIDS crisis. He wants to do so much and the compassion in his voice reflects his awareness that for as much as success is important, he also wants to lift up voices, to triumph those sacrificing their talent. He's not afraid to go on at length about his own lows, where he spent years in confusion of what to do next. He even has candid conversations about his sex life that inform parts of his identity. It's all a celebration that perfectly impacts the story. Not everything he writes about is impressive, but a lot of it feels like the work of an artist whose life was waiting to begin.
By the end, he rushes through chapters on Kinky Boots and Pose, mostly discussing quick behind the scenes stories that are humorous but reflect his goal. Everything else interests him more, and those wanting hot gossip on these aforementioned shows may be disappointed. With that said, the reader will come away with a strong understanding of who Porter is and what he's been working towards. There's so much identity in the roles he's defined and it comes from his triumph as well as his pain. He may write with a strong ego that constantly serves as humor, but somewhere inside is a sincerity, an appreciation for his life, that he's grateful for all of the sacrifices paying off. Fans will likely feel the same way, especially when noticing how many times it could've all failed.
"Unprotected" is a story about survival and needing to keep moving forward no matter what. In every chapter, there is a hurdle for Porter that could keep him from achieving his dreams. No matter what, he showed up and pushed through it. At every turn, he's judged for some part of him but manages to pull through. There is courage in every decision here. While it may at times read as a boilerplate memoir where talented artist succeeds, those who appreciate Porter's perspective will get plenty out of his first-hand experiences in the 80s and 90s Broadway culture especially, finding signs of a world that educated him and are almost nonexistent today. There's something beautiful in how he appreciates the process, and it serves as a reminder that there may be bad days, but for those who want to pursue their talents, it's sometimes worth it.
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